About Us – Oregon Law Foundation

We fund justice for all: provide legal services, promote diversity, and educate the public.

History

1981

The Oregon Law Foundation was created by the Oregon State Bar to fund law-related charities.

1983

Oregon’s lawyers created a voluntary Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program. IOLTA programs began in Australia and Canada in the early 70’s. The concept was simple: the Foundation asked members of the Bar to convert their non-interest bearing, pooled client trust accounts into interest-bearing accounts, with the interest benefiting the Foundation.

1988

The OLF, the Oregon State Bar, and the Oregon Supreme Court worked together to transform the voluntary IOLTA program into a mandatory one. In November 1988, Oregon lawyers voted 2-1 for mandatory IOLTA, and Oregon’s mandatory IOLTA program began May 1, 1989.

2005

Oregon Banks worked with the OLF to create the Leadership Bank program (now Leadership Banks & Credit Unions) to highlight the generosity of banks that voluntarily pay above-market interest rates on IOLTA.

Staff

Bill Penn: Executive Director
Brooke Thacher: Grants Strategist

Laura Greer: Administrative Assistant

Board

Valerie Colas: President
Oregon Judicial Department
Salem, Oregon
The Hon. Chanpone Sinlapasai: President-elect
Multnomah Co. Circuit Court
Portland, Oregon
Elise Bouneff: Secretary
Heritage Bank
Portland, Oregon
Randy Compton: Treasurer
Pioneer Trust Bank
Salem, Oregon
Kristen Connor: Heritage Bank
Portland, Oregon
Rima Ghandour: Ghandour Law; Portland, Oregon
Brent Hall: Hall Law, PLLC
Walla Walla, Washington

David Rosen: High Desert Law, LLC; Bend, OR
Laura Shipley: Bank of America; Portland, Oregon
Magali Sosa-Tirado: Pamplin Corporation
Portland, Oregon
Justin Thorp: Sherman Sherman Johnnie & Hoyt LLP
Salem, Oregon
Bernie Thurber: Portland, Oregon
The Hon. Debra Velure: Lane Co. Circuit Court
Eugene, Oregon